Summers Takes Office As City Treasurer

Chicago’s new city treasurer, Kurt Summers, was sworn in Monday morning, to fill the balance of the term of Stephanie Neely, who left to take a job in the private sector.

Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans presided over Summers’ oath of office at City Hall, and the new treasurer approached the job with awe and humor.

“This just got real,” he said.

As a lifelong South Sider, Summers has brought his own perspective to the numbers and investments that make up the job, and Mayor Rahm Emanuel took note of that.

“Because of how you were raised, where you went to school, what you understood, and your willingness to then come back and serve, you understand behind those numbers are residents, people, values, and an ability to make a difference,” Emanuel said.

Summers’ presence as an African American running alongside Emanuel on the February ticket certainly doesn’t hurt the mayor’s shaky standing in the black community.

Summers, who previously has served as Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle’s chief of staff, is running unopposed.